Students from five countries took part in this year’s Chinese Language and Taiwanese Culture Experience Camp organized by the Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology in Greater Tainan. Through cultural courses and visits, participants gained a deep-reaching experience of Taiwan’s folklore, customs and friendliness. The program has been a fine example of civic diplomacy for Taiwan.
This year 44 students from 16 sister institutions in Japan, South Korea, Germany, Austria and the Philippines took part in the camp, along with three accompanying teachers. As well as studying Chinese, the participants gained a deep understanding of the lifestyle of this treasure island of Formosa through interaction with volunteer study partners from the university.
In addition to Chinese language lessons, the camp’s organizers laid on a variety of activities related to Taiwanese culture, including glove puppetry, Hakka-style blue dying, traditional Taiwanese toys and games, cooking, pottery and so on, as well as trips that gave the participants a good look around the historic city of Tainan.
Photo: Lin Meng-ting, Taipei Times
照片：自由時報記者林孟婷翻攝
The students showed off what they had learned during their short two-week stay in Taiwan through song, drama and other means, and their ability to talk, mimic, joke and sing in colloquial Chinese was quite impressive.
The university says that participation in these experience camps not only arouses students’ interest in learning Chinese, but also gives them a deeper understanding of Taiwan. Many participants say that they hope they will have the chance to visit Taiwan again, or even to come here for further studies, and that they will pass on what they have learned about Taiwanese culture to other parts of the world.
(Liberty Times, translated by Julian Clegg)
南臺科技大學舉辦華語暨台灣文化體驗營，今年共有來自五個國家的學生參與活動，學員們透過文化課程以及參訪，深刻體驗台灣的民俗風情與溫暖人情，為台灣從事了一場美好的國民外交。
此次包含日本、韓國、德國、奧地利及菲律賓，共四十四位學員、十六所姐妹校及三位帶隊老師參與活動，學員不僅學習華語，更透過與南臺科大志工學伴的互動、深入瞭解美麗寶島的風情。
體驗營活動中除了華語課程，也安排多項與台灣文化相關活動，包含布袋戲、客家藍染、台灣古早童玩、烹飪及陶藝等，也帶領學員飽覽古都風光。
學員們並將短短兩週在台灣所學，以歌唱、戲劇等方式展現，說學逗唱的中文口語表演令人刮目相看。
南臺科大表示，透過參與體驗營活動，不僅啟發國際學生學習華語的興趣，同時也讓學員對台灣有更深一層瞭解，許多學員期盼有機會再度來台造訪，甚至進一步來台研讀進修課程，也藉此機會將台灣文化推廣至世界各地。
（自由時報記者林孟婷）
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